Board Game

ABSTRACT

A board game comprises a game board, a plurality of sets of standard game board pieces, at least one special game board piece, and a plurality of first configuration tokens. The game board has a playing surface with a plurality of game piece spaces disposed about a central position thereof and surrounded by an edge portion thereof. One or more of the game piece spaces is designated as game play affecting spaces. Each one of the standard game board pieces carries a respective set of game piece distinguishers. One of the game piece distinguishers of each one of the standard game board pieces is the same as one of the game piece distinguishers of at least one other set of the standard game board pieces. The at least one special game board piece is characterized in a manner distinguishing the at least one special game board piece from all of the standard game board pieces. Each one of the first configuration tokens is characterized in a manner allowing each of the first configuration tokens to be identified as being of a common configuration.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosures made herein relate generally to board games and, moreparticularly, to a board game in which games pieces are matched witheach other by their respective distinguishing shape and/or color on amulti-space game board with certain game play affecting spaces.

BACKGROUND

Games have been played throughout human history to provide entertainmentduring times of leisure and recreation. In many cases, games serve auseful purpose as aids to physical coordination and motion, to learningand to strategic thinking. From children's games to sophisticated gamesof strategy and knowledge, many games have been devised to satisfy awide variety of entertainment needs.

Board games that are played on a pre-marked surface with movable gameboard pieces are well known. However, it is also well known that boardgames have been played for centuries to provide entertainment and/or tochallenge to players. Thus, the continued conception of new board gamesand associated game play strategies are useful and desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a board game inwhich a plurality of game board pieces are each distinguished byrespective set of game piece distinguishers. Examples of a set of gamepiece distinguishers include a set of game piece distinguisherscharacterized by at least one shape and at least one color, a set ofgame piece distinguishers characterized by a first shape and a secondshape, and a set of game piece distinguishers characterized by a firstcolor and a second color. In view of the disclosures made herein, askilled person will appreciate other implementations of such game piecedistinguishers. The board game is played on a game board having aplurality of adjacent game piece spaces with a portion of those spacesbeing spaces that uniquely affect game play (i.e., game play affectingspaces). The game is played by matching color and/or shape of adjacentgame board pieces played within the spaces on the game board. In someembodiments, placement of a game piece on one of the game play affectingspaces can provide the player of that piece with one or more game playaffecting actions. Similarly, in some embodiments, placing a game piecein a manner that creates one or more specified game piece arrangements,can provide the player of that piece with one or more game playaffecting actions. Still further, in some embodiments, a player canacquire and play a special affect game board piece that allowsreplacement of one or more previously played game board pieces.

These and other objects, embodiments, advantages and/or distinctions ofthe present invention will become readily apparent upon further reviewof the following specification, associated drawings and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram view showing a board game configured inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative view showing a game board configured inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an illustrative view showing a game board pieces configured inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an illustrative view showing commencement of a method forplaying a game in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a illustrative view showing an example of an in-progress gameafter a first round of plays have been made by each one of four players.

FIG. 6 is an illustrative view showing game play prior to a playerperforming a “SHIFT”.

FIG. 7 is an illustrative view showing an example of the “SHIFT”discussed in reference to FIG. 6, in which a desired previously playedgame board piece has been shifted to an immediately adjacent game boardspace in response to a special game board piece being played (e.g.,turned in).

FIG. 8 is an illustrative view showing an example of the “SHIFT”discussed in reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, in which a additional gameboard piece that is played in the space previously occupied by theshifted game board piece.

FIG. 9 is an illustrative view showing an example of a Double Play, aTrefoil Play, and a Latice Play.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows components of a board game 100 configured in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention. The board game 100 includesa game board 102 (specifically shown in FIG. 2), a plurality of standardgame board pieces 104 (specifically shown in FIG. 3), a plurality ofspecial game board pieces 106 (specifically shown in FIG. 3), aplurality of a first configuration of tokens (i.e., first configurationtokens 108), a plurality of a second configuration of tokens (i.e.,second configuration tokens 110), and a plurality of game piece holders111 that are each configured for holding a quantity of the game boardpieces 104, 106 in a arranged and supported manner.

As discussed below in greater detail, game board 102 and the standardand special game board pieces 104, 106 are jointly configured forallowing the standard and special game board pieces 104, 106 to beplayed on the game board 102 and the first and second configurationtokens 108, 110 are used for affecting the manner in which the standardand special game board pieces 104, 106 can be played on the game board102. In preferred embodiments, the board game 100 includes one (1) gameboard, seventy-two (72) standard game board pieces 104 (e.g., 6 shapes×6colors×2 each to provide a plurality of sets of standard game boardpieces 106), twelve (12) special game board pieces 106, sixteen (16)first configuration tokens 108, sixteen (16) second configuration tokens110, and four (4) game board piece holders (i.e., racks) 111.

As shown in FIG. 2, the game board 102 has a plurality of adjacent gamepiece spaces 112 provided on an upper surface 114 thereof. Certain onesof the game piece spaces 112 have a distinguishing characteristic (e.g.,printed indicia) designating those spaces as uniquely affect game play(i.e., game play affecting spaces 112 a) with respect to regular gameplay spaces 112 b. In preferred embodiments, the game play affectingspaces 112 a and the regular game play spaces 112 b arranged in a rowand column grid arrangement (i.e., defined by horizontal and verticallines) having a central game board space 112 c. Alternatively, theadjacent game piece spaces 112 can be virtually defined, such as, forexample, by indicia at a central location of each one of the spaces andno lines or other indicia otherwise designating/defining the adjacentgame piece spaces 112.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the game play affecting spaces 112 aare interspersed among the regular game play spaces 112 b. As discussedbelow in greater detail, the game play affecting spaces 112 a can beintentionally placed with respect to the regular game play spaces 112 bfor affecting game play in a specific manner. Furthermore, although thegame play affecting spaces 112 a are preferably identical inconfiguration and game play affect, it is disclosed herein that the gameplay affecting spaces 112 a can have differentiated configuration andrespective game play affect. For example, color or shape of indiciaprovided within a particular one of the game play affecting spaces 112 acan designate the particular manner in which it affects game play.

The standard and special game board pieces 104, 106 are all configuredfor individually fitting within any one of the game play spaces 112 a,112 b, 112 c. Jointly, the standard and special game board pieces 104,106 are referred to herein universally and singularly as a game boardpiece. For example, the standard game board pieces 104 and the game playspaces 112 a, 112 b, 112 c can all be flat, square-shaped pieces (i.e.,tiles) with the game play spaces 112 a, 112 b, 112 c being correspondingsized squares. Each one of the standard game tiles 104 is characterizedby a respective shape and color. In some embodiments, such respectiveshape is in the form of an icon (e.g., printed indicia) provided on asurface thereof and the respective color is provided through the colorof the icon or a background color on which/in which the icon isprovided. The respective color and shape are a set of game piecedistinguishers. One alternate implementation of such respective set ofgame piece distinguishers includes a first shape and a second shape.Another alternate implementation of such respective set of game piecedistinguishers includes a first color and a second color. Embodiments ofthe present invention are not unnecessarily limited to any particularconfiguration of a respective set of game piece distinguishers.

Each one of the special game board pieces 106 is characterized in amanner that designates it as being different from any one of thestandard game board pieces 104, such as by having a unique indiciaand/or color provided thereon. Furthermore, although the special gameboard pieces 106 are preferably identical in configuration and game playaffect, it is disclosed herein that the special game board pieces 106can have differentiated configuration and respective game play affect.For example, color or shape of indicia provided within a particular oneof the special game board pieces 106 can designate the particular mannerin which it affects game play. It is also disclosed herein that therecan be a single special game board piece. In preferred embodiments, eachone of the standard and special game board pieces 104, 106 is in theform of a tile with the color and shape characterizing indicia providedon one of the major faces (i.e., the face) thereof.

The first configuration tokens 108 and the second configuration tokens110 are non-game board pieces. In contrast to the standard and specialgame board pieces 104, 106, which are directly played on the game board102, non-game board pieces refers to game pieces are not played directlyon the game board 102. The first and second configuration tokens 108,110, which can be visually distinguished from each other by color, sizeand/or shape (i.e., token distinguishers), are used for modifying astandard manner in which the standard game board pieces 104 are playedon the game board and/or for modifying a number of standard moves that aplayer can make during a given turn. As discussed below in greaterdetail, in preferred embodiments of the present invention, a player canacquire one or more of the first and/or second configuration tokens 108,110 by certain actions during game play. It is disclosed herein that, inother embodiments, players can be provided with one or more of the firstand/or second configuration tokens 108, 110 at the set-up of an instanceof game play.

In a preferred embodiment of the board game 100, certain componentsthereof have specific configuration. The special game board pieces 106are designated by indicia visually depicting wind (i.e., each a “WindTile”). The game play affecting spaces 112 a are designated by indiciavisually depicting a sun (i.e., each a “Sun Square”). The central gameboard space 112 c is designated by indicia visually depicting a moon(i.e., a “Moon Square”). The first configuration tokens 108 are each inthe form of a stone, marble or rock having a respective color, shape andtexture. The second configuration tokens 110 are each in the form of astone, marble or rock having a respective color, shape and texture, withat least the color, shape or texture of the second configuration tokens110 being notably different than that of the first configuration tokens108.

Presented now is a discussion on methods by which a game can be played(i.e., game play methods) using a board game configured in accordancewith the present invention can be played. Preferably, but notnecessarily, such game play methods are performed using the board game100 discussed above in reference to FIG. 1. To this end, the board gamecomponents of the board game 100 are referenced in the ensuingdiscussion of game play methods. However, in view of the disclosuresmade herein, a skilled person will appreciate other configurations ofgame boards and/or game board pieces that can be used for performinggame play methods configured in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention.

In setting up for an instance of game play, it is first necessary todetermine which one of a plurality of players will be awarded firstplay. A quantity of the standard game board pieces 104 equal to one lessthan the number of players, plus one (1) of the special game boardpieces 106, are laid out face down and mixed such that the location ofthe one (1) of the special game board pieces 106 is unknown to any ofthe players. The players then each draw one of these laid-out and mixedgame board pieces. The player who draws the special game board pieces106 is awarded first play. It is disclosed herein that the number ofstandard game board pieces 104 and special game board pieces 106 can bereversed such that the player who draws the standard game board piece106 is awarded first play. In view of the disclosures made herein, askilled person will appreciate other approaches for using components ofthe board game 100 for determining the player awarded first play.

After determining the player that has been awarded first play, the gameboard pieces used for determining first play are retuned to thecollective pool of game board pieces (i.e., pile of all standard gameboard pieces 104 and all special game board pieces 106). With theirfaces down, the game board pieces 104, 106 are mixed (i.e., randomized)and are then distributed among the players so that each player has theirown pool of the game board pieces. The game board pieces are distributedsuch that all of the players have the same number of game board piecesin their respective pool (i.e., player's pool of game board pieces). Forexample, the game board pieces can be distributed from the collectivepool of game board pieces as follows: 2 players=42 game board pieceseach, 3 players=28 game board pieces each, and 4 players=21 game boardpieces each), with any ‘leftover’ game board pieces being set aside andnot used for game play. Accordingly, each player's pool of game boardpieces has been selected with their faces down and in a randomizedarrangement such that the players do not know the make-up of game boardpieces in their respective pool.

Next, with the game board pieces in each one of the player's pool ofgame board pieces still laid out face down, each one of the players thendraws a prescribed number of game board pieces (e.g., five (5) fromtheir respective pool of game board pieces and places them on arespective one of the game piece holders 111 (i.e., the respectiveplayer's game piece holder). The game is played by matching color and/orshape of adjacent game board pieces 104, 106 played within the game playspaces 112 a, 112 b, 112 c spaces of the game board 102.

As discussed below if greater detail, in preferred embodiments of aboard game configured in accordance with the present invention, theobjective is to be the first player to play all the game board pieces intheir respective pool of game board pieces by matching the game boardpieces remaining in their respective pool with game board pieces alreadyplayed on the game board. Placement of the game board pieces is based onmatching color and/or shape of a to-be-played game board piece with oneor more already-played game board pieces, taking advantage of thespecial game board pieces 106 and the game play affecting spaces 112 aof the game board 102.

As shown in FIG. 4, game play commences with the first player (e.g., theplayer that was awarded first play, as discussed above) selecting onegame board piece from their game piece holder 111 and placing it in thecentral game board space 112 c. This player then completes their turn bydrawing a game board piece from their respective pool of game boardpieces. For clarity, in the embodiment of game play discussed inreference to FIGS. 4-9, the game piece distinguisher nomenclature isShape number, Color number (i.e., S(n), C(n)). After the first play hasbeen made, each successive player plays their turn per a prescribedsequence of players (e.g., counter-clockwise, clock-wise, etc). Morespecifically, the second player, and then each in turn, adds one gameboard piece to the game board 100 next to an existing game board piecesuch that for the game piece just played all adjacent game board piecesmatch based on either color or shape. Each player ends their turn bydrawing as many game board pieces from their respective pool of gameboard pieces as they you played from their game piece holder 111 duringthat turn (or all that are left in their respective pool of game boardpieces if that number is less than the number just played). In thisrespect, each player maintains the prescribed number of game boardpieces on their game piece holder 111 as long as there are enough gameboard pieces left in their respective pool of game board pieces to doso. A player wins when they have no game board pieces remaining in theirpool and play their last game board piece, or when all players pass (ifall players pass the player with the fewest remaining game board pieceswins). If a player has drawn all their game board pieces from theirrespective pool of game board pieces but cannot place any one of theirgame board pieces during such turn, the player passes their turn.

FIG. 5 shows an example of an in-progress game after a first round ofplays have been made by each one of four (4) players playing a game.Optionally, rather than use their turn to place a game board piece, aplayer may perform an “Exchange”. In an Exchange, the player uses theirturn to exchange all or some of the game board pieces on their gamepiece holder 111 with the same number of pieces from their respectivepool of game board pieces. The player performs the exchange by settingaside face down the desired game board pieces that they choose toexchange, drawing the same number of game board pieces from theirrespective pool of game board pieces, placing the newly selected gameboard pieces on their game piece holder 111, and then mixing theset-aside game board pieces into their respective pool of game boardpieces. This ends their turn.

During their turn, a player may use one of the special game board pieces106 to perform a “SHIFT”. In a Shift, the player makes opens a gameboard space for playing the special game board piece 106 by moving onepreviously played game board piece one game board space in any direction(i.e., up, down, left or right). After playing the special game boardpieces 106, the player can place an additional game board piece asnormal (i.e., matching it by color and/or shape).

FIGS. 6-8 shows an example of player performing a “SHIFT”. In FIG. 6,the game board 100 and played game board pieces are shown prior to theSHIFT being performed. FIG. 7 shows the desired previously played gameboard piece having been shifted one game board space (i.e., shifted gameboard piece 120) in response to a special game board piece 106 beingplayed (e.g., turned in) for allowing a game board space previouslyoccupied by the shifted game board piece 120 to become unoccupied. FIG.8 shows an additional game board piece 122 that is played by the playerafter playing (i.e., presenting) a special game board piece 106 forallowing relocating of the shifted game board piece 120. Beneficially,the additional game board piece 122 is played on one of the game playaffecting spaces 112 a.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, a player can acquireone or more of the first and/or second configuration tokens 108, 110 bycertain actions during game play. In one example (i.e., a “Double Play”130), shown in FIG. 8 at additional game board piece 122, a player earnsa prescribed number (e.g., one (1)) of the first configuration tokens108 when that player plays a game board piece at a space on the gameboard 102 that has previously-played game board pieces immediatelyadjacent to that space on two (2) sides. In another example (i.e., a“Trefoil Play” 140), shown in FIG. 9, a player earns a prescribed number(e.g., one (1)) of the second configuration tokens 110 when that playerplays a game board piece at a space on the game board 102 that haspreviously-played game board pieces immediately adjacent to that spaceon three (3) sides. In yet another example (i.e., a “Latice Play” 150),shown in FIG. 9, a player earns a prescribed number (e.g., two (2)) ofthe second configuration tokens 110 when that player plays a game boardpiece at a space on the game board 102 that has previously-played gameboard pieces immediately adjacent to that space on four (4) sides (orall sides if the game board pieces have more or less than four (4)sides). Still further, a player earns a prescribed number (e.g., one(1)) of the second configuration tokens 110 when that player plays agame board piece at a game play affecting space 112 a on the game board102. As a skilled person will appreciate in view of the disclosures madeherein, various rules can be defined that allow the first and/or secondconfiguration tokens 108, 110 to be earned by the players based on themanner in which they play their game board pieces.

The first and/or second configuration tokens 108, 110 can be redeemed(i.e., selectively used) for certain actions. It is disclosed hereinthat a specified action or user-selected choice of actions can beassociated with each configuration of token. It is also disclosed hereinthat there can be only one configuration of token that serves a singularfunction, a function based on the number of tokens redeemed, and/or afunction defined by the user for a prescribed number of tokens. Oneexample of an action permitted in exchange for redemption of a specifiednumber (e.g., one (1)) of the first configuration token 108 by a playerduring their turn of game play is an additional placement of a gameboard piece during that turn. Another example of an action permitted inexchange for redemption of a specified number (e.g., three (3)) of thefirst configuration token 108 by a player during their turn of game playis immediate access to a special game board pieces 106 (e.g., from thatplayers respective pool of game board pieces or a set aside pool ofspecial game board pieces 106). Still another example of an actionpermitted in exchange for redemption of a specified number (e.g., two(2)) of the second configuration token 110 by a player during their turnof game play is an additional placement of a game board piece duringthat turn. To promote use of the tokens, limitations can be placed onthe number of tokens that can be in the possession of any one player atany given point in time (e.g., not more than a prescribed amount of thefirst configuration in possession at of a player at the end of any turnby that player).

Accordingly, in view of the disclosures made herein, a skilled personwill understand that the first and/or second configuration tokens 108,110 affect game play and the outcome thereof. First, that skilled personwill appreciate that the first and/or second configuration tokens 108,110 are valuable to a player because they can be traded for extra movesor special game board pieces, thereby allowing the player to get depletetheir game board pieces faster to accomplish the ‘win condition’ ofbeing the first player to play all of their game board pieces. Secondly,a skilled person will appreciate that players can use actions associatedwith the first and/or second configuration tokens 108, 110 to setup morecomplex move combinations, such as using a SWITCH and/or extra move tosetup a “Latice” or to close the distance to a game play affectingspaces 112 a. In this respect, through intelligent use of the firstand/or second configuration tokens 108, 110, players can beneficially“chain” winning strategies to gain a significant advantage.

Advantageously, the game board 102 can be configured such that placementof the game play affecting spaces 112 a with respect to surroundingregular game play spaces 112 b is intended to have a particular impacton game play. For example, in preferred embodiments, there areseventy-two (72) standard game board pieces 104 and eighty-one (81) gameplay spaces on the game board 102. Thus, if all of the standard gameboard pieces were played there would be nine (9) game play spaces leftempty. On average, about 4-6 game play spaces are typically “dead”(i.e., a space where the adjacent game board piece colors/shapes cannotbe matched or where all possible matching game board pieces have alreadybeen played by the end of the game). Preferably, the game play affectingspaces 112 a are located closer to the perimeter edge spaces of the gameboard 102 than to the central game board space 112 c. Thus, althoughgame play typically starts slow (e.g., due to few constraints or“special” game play spaces available at the beginning of the game),limits on the number of playable game play spaces means that the“challenge level” of the game gradually increases as the game progressesand is typically very high near the last few moves of the game.

As players learn the game, both offensive and defensive strategiesbecome available. Offensive moves involve setting up spaces on the boardfor higher-value matches (open spaces with 3 or 4 adjacent game boardpieces) and defensive moves involve reducing these opportunities forother players. As shown in FIG. 1, the game play affecting spaces 112 aare positioned to encourage players to play toward the edges and cornersof the game board 102 and to work to counteract the value of defensiveplay such as by opening up game play to create a greater likelihood ofhigh-value moves for both new and skilled players and helping ensurethat the game play extends to all corners by the end of the game).

Although the invention has been described with reference to severalexemplary embodiments, it is understood that the words that have beenused are words of description and illustration, rather than words oflimitation. Changes may be made within the purview of the appendedclaims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention in all its aspects. Although theinvention has been described with reference to particular means,materials and embodiments, the invention is not intended to be limitedto the particulars disclosed; rather, the invention extends to allfunctionally equivalent technologies, structures, methods and uses suchas are within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A board game, comprising: a game board having aplaying surface with a plurality of game piece spaces disposed about acentral position thereof and surrounded by an edge portion thereof,wherein a portion of the game piece spaces are designated as game playaffecting spaces; a plurality of sets of standard game board pieces eachcarrying a respective set of game piece distinguishers, wherein one ofthe game piece distinguishers of each one of the standard game boardpieces is the same as one of the game piece distinguishers of at leastone other set of the standard game board pieces; at least one specialgame board piece characterized in a manner distinguishing the at leastone special game board piece from all of the standard game board pieces;and a plurality of first configuration tokens each characterized in amanner allowing each of the first configuration tokens to be identifiedas being of a common configuration.
 2. The board game of claim 1 whereina quantity of the game play affecting spaces adjacent to the edgeportion of the playing surface is greater than a quantity of the gameplay affecting spaces adjacent to the central position of the playingsurface.
 3. The board game of claim 2 wherein the game play affectingspaces are uniformly distributed with respect to the central position ofthe playing surface.
 4. The board game of claim 1 wherein: all of thestandard game board pieces and the at least one special game board pieceare substantially flat, are of a common size, and are substantiallysquare in shape; and all of the game piece spaces are substantially thesame shape and slightly larger in size than the standard game boardpieces and the at least one special game board piece.
 5. The board gameof claim 1 wherein the respective set of game piece distinguishers ofeach one of the standard game board pieces includes at least one shapeand at least one color.
 6. The board game of claim 1 wherein therespective set of game piece distinguishers of each one of the standardgame board pieces includes one of: at least one shape and at least onecolor; a first shape and a second shape; and a first color and a secondcolor
 7. The board game of claim 6 wherein a quantity of the game playaffecting spaces adjacent to the edge portion of the playing surface isgreater than a quantity of the game play affecting spaces adjacent tothe central position of the playing surface.
 8. The board game of claim1 wherein all of the game play affecting spaces are designated by acommon indicia.
 9. The board game of claim 8 wherein the respective setof game piece distinguishers of each one of the standard game boardpieces includes at least one shape and at least one color.
 10. The boardgame of claim 9 wherein: a quantity of the game play affecting spacesadjacent to the edge portion of the playing surface is greater than aquantity of the game play affecting spaces adjacent to the centralposition of the playing surface; and the game play affecting spaces areuniformly distributed with respect to the central position of theplaying surface.
 11. The board game of claim 9 wherein: all of thestandard game board pieces and the at least one special game board pieceare substantially flat, are of a common size, and are substantiallysquare in shape; and all of the game piece spaces are substantially thesame shape and slightly larger in size than the standard game boardpieces and the at least one special game board piece.
 12. A method ofplaying a board game, comprising the steps of: placing a randomlyselected one of a plurality of standard game board pieces within adesignated one of a plurality of game piece spaces of a game board;providing a designated quantity of randomly selected game board piecesto each one of a plurality of players, wherein the designated quantityof randomly selected game board pieces are provided from a collection ofgame board pieces each having a respective set of game piecedistinguishers; and in a round of play starting with a first one of theplayers and proceeding in a designated order to each other one of theplayers, each one of the players taking a turn at attempting to placeone of the game board pieces thereof within an unoccupied one of thegame piece spaces immediately adjacent one or more of the game piecespaces already occupied by a previously-placed game board piece, whereinallowed placement of the game board piece attempting to be placedrequires at least one of the respective set of game piece distinguishersthereof to match at least one of the respective set of game piecedistinguishers of all previously-placed game board piece alreadyoccupying the immediately adjacent one or more of the game piece spaces.13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: issuing a designatedquantity of a first configuration token to a player during a turnthereof in response to said allowed placement of the game board piecethereof resulting in the game board piece being placed on one of thegame piece spaces that is designated as a game play affecting space; andallowing the player to exchange one or more of the first configurationtokens for one of: enabling the player to place more than one game boardpiece during the turn thereof; and enabling the player to move apreviously placed game board piece from a currently occupied game boardspace to a different game board space.
 14. The method of claim 13wherein allowing the player to exchange one or more of the firstconfiguration tokens for enabling the player to move the previouslyplaced game board piece from the currently occupied game board space tothe different game board space includes providing the player with aspecial game board piece.
 15. The method of claim 12, furthercomprising: allowing a player during a turn thereof to exchange aspecial game board piece thereof for enabling the player to move apreviously-placed game board piece from a currently occupied game boardspace to an immediately adjacent game board space thereto that is notalready occupied with a game board piece.
 16. The method of claim 15,further comprising: issuing a designated quantity of a firstconfiguration token to a player during a turn thereof in response tosaid allowed placement of the game board piece thereof resulting in thegame board piece being placed on one of the game piece spaces that isdesignated as a game play affecting space; and allowing the player toexchange one or more of the first configuration tokens for one of:enabling the player to place more than one game board piece during theturn thereof; and enabling the player to move a previously placed gameboard piece from a currently occupied game board space to a differentgame board space.
 17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:issuing a designated quantity of a first configuration token to a playerduring a turn thereof in response to said allowed placement of the gameboard piece thereof resulting in the game board piece being placed onone of the game piece spaces that is designated as a game play affectingspace; issuing a designated quantity of a second configuration token tothe player during the turn thereof in response to said allowed placementof the game board piece thereof resulting in the game board piece beingplaced on a game piece space having a plurality of previously-placedgame board pieces each occupying a respective game board spaceimmediately adjacent thereto; allowing the player to exchange one ormore of the first configuration tokens for taking an additional turnimmediately after the turn thereof; and allowing the player to exchangeone or more of the second configuration tokens for receiving a specialgame board piece during the turn thereof, wherein the special game boardpiece enables a previously-placed game board piece to be moved from acurrently occupied game board space to an immediately adjacent gameboard space thereto that is not already occupied with a game boardpiece.
 18. The method of claim 15, further comprising: issuing adesignated quantity of a designated configuration of token during a turnthereof in response to said allowed placement of the game board piecethereof resulting in the game board piece being placed on a game piecespace having two previously-placed game board pieces each occupying arespective game board space immediately adjacent thereto; issuing adesignated quantity of a designated configuration of token during theturn thereof in response to said allowed placement of the game boardpiece thereof resulting in the game board piece being placed on a gamepiece space having three previously-placed game board pieces eachoccupying a respective game board space immediately adjacent thereto;and issuing a designated quantity of a designated configuration of tokenduring the turn thereof in response to said allowed placement of thegame board piece thereof resulting in the game board piece being placedon a game piece space having four previously-placed game board pieceseach occupying a respective game board space immediately adjacentthereto.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: allowing theplayer to exchange one or more tokens of a first designatedconfiguration for taking an additional turn immediately after the turnthereof; and allowing the player to exchange one or more tokens of asecond designated configuration for receiving a special game board pieceduring the turn thereof, wherein the special game board piece enablesthe player to move a previously placed game board piece from a currentlyoccupied game board space to a different game board space.
 20. Themethod of claim 19, further comprising: allowing the player during theturn thereof to exchange the special game board piece thereof forenabling the player to move a previously-placed game board piece fromits current game board space to any immediately adjacent game boardspace thereto that is not already occupied with a game board piece.